The 2015 Bill Ward Award was given to Laura Calwell of Friends of the Kaw, and Jason Riegel, the city of Hays Water Conservation Specialist.

Laura Calwell​Many of you know Laura Calwell as the Kansas Riverkeeper, but may not know that she was a founding board member of Friends of the KAW, a group that began in 1991 to keep dredging out the Kansas River. As the Kansas Riverkeeper from 2003 to February of this year, Laura has been instrumental in continuing to move sand dredging operations out of the river. She led the effort to institute the Kansas River Inventory, a publicly available comprehensive survey of the water quality and wildlife along the river's 173 mile corridor. She and Friends of the KAW worked to designate the Kansas River as a National Water Trail, a designation the river received in 2012. In June of 2015 the River Network honored Laura as a River Hero. Though retired as the Riverkeeper, Laura continues with Friends of the KAW as Education Director. In her role as Riverkeeper and now as education director Laura works not only to bring Kansans to the river so that they may enjoy and appreciate it, but also to instill a sense of pride in our prairie river; and that just might be the best protection strategy there is.

Jason RiegelNot only is Jason the water conservation specialist for Hays, Kansas, but he is also a TV star on Eagle TV's Community Connection Forum where he regularly talks about city water conservation measures. Jason spent 12 years in Lawrence with the Department of Public Utilities as a wastewater operator and technician before moving to Hays in 2013 to become the first municipal water conservation specialist in Kansas. Jason has a unique perspective on water in Kansas – he can apply his "nuts and bolts" technical knowledge to what might be considered lofty conservation goals; and he has dealt with water issues on both sides of the water divide that is eastern Kansas vs. western Kansas. Jason manages the city of Hays numerous water conservation programs – rebates for old washing machines and toilets, replacements for old showerheads, and assistance for turf conversions. Community education is a large part of his job, and something he is clearly enthusiastic about as expressed in his own words, "Hays is good, but it could be great". An aspiration for all Kansas communities.

The 2014 Bill Ward Award was given to Dorothy Barnett at the 2014 Community Forum on KS Environmental Issues. Dorothy is the executive director of the Climate and Energy Project. She and the CEP have been and continue to be strong and effective advocates for renewable energy in Kansas.

The 2013 Bill Ward Award was given to Dr. Scott White at the 2013 Community Forum on KS Environmental Issues. Dr. White founded the Kansas Energy Information Network (www.KansasEnergy.org) and co-authored The Economic Benefits of Kansas Wind Energy report.

Since 1990, KNRC has given special recognition to individuals who have made significant contributions to protecting and preserving the Kansas environment - the Bill Ward Award.This tribute was originally called the KNRC Environmental Action Award, and was renamed the Bill Ward Award in 1996. Bill Ward was a founding member of KNRC, a longtime Board member and one of its most active supporters.Here is a list of past honorees.